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V. DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OF PRIMARY AND

SECONDARY BUILDINGS

14-172-209. Determination on application for certificate. (b) (3) The commission shall determine whether the proposed construction, recon-

struction, alteration, restoration, moving, or demolition of buildings, structures, or appurte-

nant fixtures involved will be appropriate to the preservation of the historic district for the

purposes of this subchapter, or whether, notwithstanding that it may be inappropriate, ow-

ing to conditions especially affecting the structure involved, but not affecting the historic

district generally, failure to issue a certificate of appropriateness will involve a substantial

hardship, financial or otherwise, to the applicant, and whether the certificate may be issued

without substantial detriment to the public welfare and without substantial derogation from

the intent and purpose of this subchapter.

(State Statute)

Sec. 23-115. - Certificate of appropriateness required.

No building or structure, including stone walls, fences, light fixtures, steps and paving or

other appurtenant fixtures shall be erected, altered, restored, moved, or demolished within

the historic district created by this division until after an application for a certificate of ap-

propriateness as to the exterior architectural changes has been submitted to and approved

by the historic district commission. A certificate of appropriateness shall have been issued

by the commission prior to the issuance of a building permit or other permit granted for

purposes of constructing or altering structures.

Sec. 23-120. - General criteria. In making its determination, the commission shall consider without being limited to the fol-

lowing criteria:

(d) When evaluating the general compatibility of alterations to the exterior of any

building in the historic district, the commission shall consider, but not be limited to, the

following factors within the building's area of influence:

(1) Siting.

(2) Height.

(3) Proportion.

(4) Rhythm.

(5) Roof area.

(6) Entrance area.

(7) Wall areas.

(8) Detailing.

(9) Facade.

(10) Scale.

(11) Massing.

(f) Generally, new construction shall be judged on its ability to blend with the ex-

isting neighborhood and area of influence. The commission shall consider, but not be

limited to the factors listed for alterations in paragraph [subsection] (d).

(City Code)

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RESIDENTIAL INFILL GUIDELINES

Building Types by Location

Examples of residential building types include single-family

detached houses, attached houses, townhouses, and apart-

ment buildings. Permitted residential building types are de-

pendent upon their location within the district. Rather than

attempting to designate sub-districts for permitted building

types, the descriptions below will allow the HDC to deter-

mine the appropriate building types for specific locations on

a case-by-case basis. Although building types are historical-

ly associated with uses, these guidelines do not dictate per-

mitted land uses, as that is determined by the underlying

zoning. Not including mixed-use buildings with housing

units above commercial ground floors, the following residen-

tial building types are permitted:

Single-Family Detached

This house type is designed to accommodate a single house-

hold. They are most commonly clad in clapboard or brick

and have pitched roofs and front porches. An example of an

area within the district dominated by single-family detached

houses is the block of Rock Street between 10th and 11th

Streets. Any areas of the district dominated with single-

family detached housing should be reinforced with the same

housing type.

Attached Housing

This house type includes duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes,

and similar housing on a single lot. They are most common-

ly clad in clapboard or brick and have pitched roofs and

front porches. These housing types typically feature an exte-

rior door for each unit. One example of historic attached

housing within the district is the two-story brick quadplexes

located on the southwest corner of Cumberland and 10th (see

at right). Attached housing should be limited to areas with

existing mixed use and/or attached housing.

Townhouses

This housing type, sometimes referred to as a “rowhouse,”

typically features two or more stories within a single unit,

and each unit is often located on its own lot. Each unit has a

ground floor exterior entrance, and each shares one or more

adjoining side walls with one or more neighboring units.

While the district lacks a tradition of townhouses, street seg-

ments having mixed use and/or attached or multi-family

housing and institutional buildings might be appropriate for

31

The second house from the right is not

compatible with the other three houses: it

is too tall, too large in massing, and ori-

ented the wrong direction.

townhouses. Examples of such streets include Capitol Ave-

nue, East 9th Street and portions of Daisy L. Gatson Bates

Multi-Family Housing

Multi-family structures, often referred to as “apartment

buildings,” consist of multiple housing units. Units are of-

ten oriented one over the other (“stacked”), and the exterior

design of the building typically does not define the individ-

ual units, unlike townhouses. There are several examples of

multi-family housing throughout the district, and they are

commonly multi-storied and clad in brick. While smaller

multi-family buildings are located somewhat randomly

within the district, the larger buildings tend to be located

near mixed use, institutional, and/or other multi-family

buildings on streets such as Capitol and East 9th.

Compatibility by Context The City’s historic preservation ordinance that serves as the

basis for the MacArthur Park Historic District lists eleven

factors to be considered in reviewing proposed infill devel-

opment. Those factors have been consolidated or these de-

sign guidelines utilizing the following nine Design Factors:

1) Building Orientation

2) Building Setbacks

3) Building Scale & Massing

4) Roofs

5) Facades

6) Foundations

7) Architectural Detailing

8) Materials

9) Site Design

The term “historic precedent,” as used within these guide-

lines, refers to design and material traditions that are com-

monly found in the district and that comprise part of the

area’s historic architectural vocabulary. In locations with a

strong cohesiveness of design character and historic archi-

tectural integrity, it is important that most (or even all) of

the Design Factors be achieved for compatibility of new

infill. A key guide to determine architectural integrity is the

map illustrating National Register, contributing and non-

contributing buildings.

Design Guidelines

With the permitted building types and contextual considerations described above in mind, each application for new

development should be evaluated based upon the following nine Design Factors. Unless specified otherwise, these

guidelines apply to the primary residential building on each lot, as opposed to accessory buildings such as garages.

Accessory buildings should share the same general character as their associated residential buildings. These guide-

lines should be applied much more rigorously to portions of a building visible from a street than from other areas.

The shaded house (second from the

right) is highly compatible with the

nearby existing houses in numerous

respects.

Compatible orientation (dashed foot-

print).

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1) Building Orientation

Relationship of Primary Axis to the Street The orientation of a new building is considered with respect to

the relationship of its primary (longest) axis with the associated

street that it fronts. On a street segment (block face) dominated

by historic buildings oriented perpendicular with the street, the

new building should be perpendicular with the street. On a street

dominated by historic buildings oriented horizontal with the

street, the new building should be horizontal with the street.

Most historic buildings in the district are perpendicularly orient-

ed.

Primary Entrance

The building’s primary entrance should front directly onto the

building’s primary associated street.

2) Building Setbacks

Front Setbacks: Should be within 5 feet of the average setback

of historic buildings on the block face.

Side Setbacks: No requirements beyond the applicable zoning.

Rear Setbacks: No requirements beyond the applicable zoning.

Townhouses and multi-family buildings can be closer to the asso-

ciated street relative to the average front setback of single-family

and attached housing. In fact, townhouses should be within rela-

tively close proximity to the street’s ROW (0-10 feet). For town-

houses, the side setback requirements only apply to the unat-

tached sidewall of the end units.

Accessory buildings may be within a few feet of rear and side lot

lines per the underlying zoning requirements for such buildings.

Parking areas (not including driveways along side lot lines) may

not occur between the building and its associated street.

3) Building Scale & Massing

Heights: Should be a maximum of two (2) stories and 35 feet.

The story limit does not include “half stories” within the roof

level of a house that might be considered a two-and-a-half sto-

ry house.

Widths: Building widths are dictated by the side setback require-

ments cited above.

Massing: Massing is defined by major facade components such

as wall planes created by façade recesses and projections, roof

lines, porches, and similar major architectural elements. Massing

should be generally consistent with the massing scale and rhythm

of historic buildings in the area.

4) Roofs Roof Forms: All residential building types should have pitched

roofs, with the exception of apartment and townhouse buildings.

Apartment buildings may have pitched roofs, or they may have a

flat or modestly sloped roof if obscured on the front façade with a

These new townhouses have utilized cor-

niced parapet walls to visually screen

their �lat roofs.

These three single-family detached houses

all share the same basic design character-

istics, including orientation, height, set-

backs, roof forms, massing, and façade

design

Incompatible setback (shaded building).

33

parapet wall.

Roof Components & Penetrations: The location, design and materials of chimneys should be similar to other

chimneys of historic buildings on the same block face and/or general area. Roof components and penetrations,

such as vent pipes, solar panels and satellite dishes, should be located so as to minimize their visibility from the

primary associated street.

5) Facades

Entrances: The primary entrance for all residential buildings should exist on the primary façade, which should

front onto the building’s associated street. Depending upon the architectural style, if a particular style is sought,

the entrance might be designed with prominence within the façade through the use of a portico, overlights, side-

lights, and similar architectural detailing.

Windows: All windows should be vertically oriented, although a series of vertically-oriented “ganged” windows

can be utilized even if, collectively, they result in an overall horizontal orientation. If provided, shutters should be

sized to fit the window and, even if not operable, should be designed and mounted to generally appear operable.

Proportions & Rhythm: Proportions and rhythms used for infill residential design should reflect those found in the

area. For example, windows are typically evenly spaced within their façade, and they are usually vertically

aligned between floors. Likewise, window dormers should be scaled in proportion to the overall façade and roof.

See below regarding proportions for porch elements.

Porches: With the exception of a few architectural styles and

building types (Gothic Revival, apartment buildings, etc.), most

historic residential buildings in the district feature front porches.

When provided, they should have a minimum depth of 8 feet to

be functional and not merely aesthetic. Posts, railings, balus-

trades and other porch elements should utilize appropriate pro-

portions and avoid the undersized elements often found with

many infill buildings. Porch steps should be masonry or wood,

depending upon the architectural style if a particular style is

sought. An exception would be cast iron steps (or a similar ap-

pearing material) for townhouses and other less common housing

types.

6) Foundations

The vast majority of residential buildings within the district fea-

ture a raised foundation. Foundations should be a minimum of

24 inches in height along the front façade. Foundations can be

constructed of solid masonry or masonry piers. Typically, the

space between piers is screened with lattice work. Even for

buildings designed to replicate a historic building, foundation

materials such as split-face concrete block can provide a clue that

a building is not truly historic.

Split-face concrete block can be used as a

foundation material to convey that even

an otherwise replica of a historic building

is in fact contemporary.

This front porch on 15th Street has many

of the design features found throughout

the district: brick piers, lattice work be-

tween the piers, and well-proportioned

posts, hand railing and balustrade.

34

7) Architectural Detailing Architectural detailing entails the various relatively small ele-

ments that are often decorative in nature. Examples include or-

nate shingles in a façade’s gable area, barge board / verge board,

ornate window surrounds, pillars, pilasters, millwork spindling

under a front porch roof, cornices, and dentils and ornate brackets

under a roof eaves. Below are key principles to apply to detail-

ing:

Detailing should be consistent with the style and era for build-

ings emulating a particular architectural style and/or era.

Detailing is most appropriate for buildings seeking to replicate

historic buildings. For architectural contexts in which strong

compatibility is less critical for new buildings, detailing is un-

necessary and perhaps even undesirable.

8) Materials

The location and design of materials often determines the com-

patibility of materials. Because of the numerous variables in con-

sidering materials, a list of permitted and prohibited materials has

been intentionally excluded here. However, key principles for

considering materials are provided below:

The focus should be on a material’s appearance rather than the

actual material. Modern materials that produce the appear-

ance, texture, and proportions of the historic materials may

be acceptable.

Durability is an exception to the focus on the appearance of ma-

terials. If there are concerns that a material will not weather

well and will eventually have an appearance that reveals that

they are not historically-based materials, the actual material

should indeed be considered.

The use and design of materials should consider historic prece-

dents within the district. The term “historic precedent,” as

used within these guidelines, refers to design and material

traditions that are commonly found in the district and that

comprise part of the area’s historic architectural vocabulary.

9) Site Design

See chapter VII on page 47 for site design for details.

The style of this new house (Queen Ann)

�its MacArthur Park, but the high level of

detailing may not be necessary.

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Recent Built Residential Infill